Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-21
r1 Coming Great National Drill
A MILITARY TOURNAMENT.
HOW THE CONTESTS ARE MANAGED
Citizens Who Provided the Money and
Arranged the Drill-Facts of Interest
About the Great Gathering of Ma
tiOnal Guardsmen-The Hospital Ser.
vice.

Athousand tents whiten the green sward that
stretches around the Washington Monument.
Such camp has not been seen In this country
nnce the veterans Of the civil war broke their
last camp In Go. Now the soldiers OF the North,
the South, the East and the West assemble in one
camp and contend In friendly strife for the tro-
phies OF the peaceful drill ground. The week
about TO open will be filled with events, brilliant
street pageants, splendid drills, reviews, ana
street parades. Already the soldier boys are COM
Ing In, and the sound OF drum and bugle an
nounce that the occupation OF the city has begun
washington boasts of many things in the super
latiye degree. IL has the highest monument, the
largest public buildings, the most beautiful
streets the widest expanSe OF smooth payementS,
The finest public grounds and many other Things
the best biggest OF their kind And now 1t adds
70 the list the biggest" competitive drill Inc
most extensive gathering of the kind up TO TINS
time was that at scamp X. c. Drum" in Mobile,
In 1885 but this drill exceeds that more than
three-tod In the number OF military bodies COM
ing. The date of the National Drill was wisely
nxed at the time when the city, at the dawn OF
summer, Is In its most beautiful attire. The vel
vety green OF the lawns, the fresh foliage OF the
parks, and the bright May sunlight help to make
delightful pictures around the camp, with en-
chanting vistas OF river and hill in one direction,
OF, In the other, OF splendid buildings rising amid
spacious parks.
THE PROGRAM.
The camp will practically begin tomorrow, Dut
the formal opening viii be on Monday. The pro-
gram OF exercises forthe eight days that the camp
Will continue is as follows:
Monday-Dress parade at pm.
Tuesday-Infantry company competitions, 10 10
2; zouave competitions, 2:30; exhibition drill, A;
dress parade, 5. Artillery drills Athletic Park 10
toll.
WedneSday-Parade, forenoon; regtmental re-
views and competitions, afternoon; dress pa
rSde, 8.
Thursday-lnfantry company competitions, 10
toe: zouave competitions, 2:3O; individual COM
petition A. dress parade, 5. Artillery drills, Ath-
ee1c Park, 10 to1.
Friday[nfantry company competition 10 to 2;
battalion competition, 2 TO 4; individual competi-
ton, 4; dress parade, 5.
Saturday-IDfantry company competitions, 10 to
3; cadet competition, 2; High school Cadets, 4:
dress parade, 5.
Sunday-Religiouss services, 3; dress parade, 5.
Monday-Street parade, forenoon; award of
prizes and exhibition drills afternoon; dress pa
rade, s.
Artillery drills, Tuesday and Thursday, 10 to L;
lille practice, Tuesday afternoon; Thursday, IL to
3; Friday, IL TO 8; saturday, IL to3
For every day events are provided which would
make that one day memorable IL It stood alone.
TIE DRnL-GRoUND.
The drills for the prizes and trophies will take
place In the ellpse OF the White Lot, the continue
ton toward the south of the White House grounds.
The drill ground Is separated from the camp
groundby Babcock Lake, and a little stretch OF
land. broad well-shaded road running south
nom the drfu ground winds around the Washing
ton Monumentand through the camp. The clip
ucA drill ground Is enclosed with a high fence
over half a mile in extent. A grand stand-the
'grandest" stand ever erected in Washington
extends about half way around the el1pse. This
stand VIII, 1t Is estimated, accommodate 10000
people, and rivals In capacity the huge amphithe-
alters OF days OF Roman grandeur. Within the
enclosure aroadway Is left circling In front OF the
grand stand, and within that Is the drill ground,
broad level lawn large enough for full brigade to
manCeuyer In. One corner Of theS1rin ground-it
tDs nCsle corner with a frontage OF 800 feet-is
given up TO the pyrorama- By day, this seems TO
be an aggregation OF stage scenery and proper
ues~ on hinge scale, but at night, it minicS all
theepaendors andan the fiery horrors of a great
nsvA bateie In thtSdr1il ground the infantry con-
tests viii take place. The artillery drills Will be
as Afnleoc Park, and the rifie practice at the
arSenal
SPECIAL DAYS.
wednesday, the 18th, and Monday, the Both
Decoration day, Will be the two great days
a ene camp-in popular estimation. Wednesday
YIN be Governors day, on which day the gov
onorS OF the several states, Win their stalls,
WIN surround the President on q grand stand
m mont of the White House and review the
troops IN camp. Decoration day the soldiers In
camp VIII be invited TO join the procession TO
Arlington to join With the Grand Army Of the Re-
public In the exercises of the day. In the after
noon OF that day the prizes and trophies the flags
and stands OF colors, the medals and cash pre-
NUNS viii be presented by the President TO the
commands judged to have been the most skilled In
xfYTn n6av- has nor h.1Qy atpd Hyf ho-o
who arranged the program. On that day there will
be religious services In camp, and Rev. T. Dewitt
Talmage, the famous Brooklyn divine, Will preach
to the soldiers.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DRILL.
COmmtssiOneF Whealley Thinks 1t
will Produce Valuable Results.